Loss Recovery Calculator

How to use the loss recovery calculator

Enter how far your account is down. Type your drawdown as a percentage — for example, 20 if you're down 20%.
Or let it work out the percentage for you. Enter your balance and the amount lost, and the drawdown percentage fills in automatically.
Read the gain you need. The big number is the percentage gain required to get back to your starting balance.
Check the reference table. It shows the recovery gain for a range of common drawdowns, so you can see how quickly the climb steepens.

Why losses are harder to recover than they look

Losses and gains are not symmetrical. When you lose money, you're left with a smaller balance — and that smaller balance has to grow by a larger percentage to get back to where it started.

Lose 10% and you need 11% to recover. Lose 25% and you need 33%. Lose 50% and you need a 100% gain — you have to double what's left. By the time you're down 90%, you need a 900% gain just to break even. This asymmetry is the single biggest reason disciplined traders obsess over not taking large losses in the first place.

The formula

Recovery gain % = Loss % ÷ (100 − Loss %) × 100

The practical lesson: it's far easier to avoid a deep drawdown than to trade your way out of one. Keep risk per trade small with a lot size calculator, use stop losses, and never try to win it all back in one trade.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a loss need a bigger gain to recover?

Because after a loss you're starting from a smaller balance. If you lose 50%, you have half your money left, and that half has to double — a 100% gain — just to get back to even. The percentage needed always grows faster than the loss itself.

How is the recovery percentage calculated?

Recovery gain = loss% ÷ (100 − loss%) × 100. For example a 20% loss needs 20 ÷ 80 × 100 = 25%, and a 50% loss needs 50 ÷ 50 × 100 = 100%. The calculator does it for you and shows a reference table.

What gain do I need to recover from a 50% loss?

A 50% loss requires a 100% gain — you have to double your remaining balance just to break even. A 75% loss needs a 300% gain, and a 90% loss needs a 900% gain, which is why deep drawdowns are so dangerous.

How do I avoid deep drawdowns?

Keep your risk per trade small and consistent — most professionals risk 1% or less. Use stop losses, avoid revenge trading, and size positions with a lot size calculator so a losing streak only dents your account rather than crippling it.

Is this loss recovery calculator free?

Yes — every tool on Pips Perspective is completely free with no sign-up, login or email required. Results are for education only and are not financial advice.

Gain Needed to Break Even